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This is the first 360-degree panorama in color of the Gale Crater landing site taken by NASA's Curiosity rover. The panorama was made from thumbnail versions of images taken by the Mast Camera. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Since landing in the Gale crater on the surface of Mars on Aug. 5, NASA's rover has been getting a full health checkup. Now, it's time for target practice.

Scientists said Friday they've selected a generic-looking rock about 10 feet away from the landing site to ready, aim, fire, and burn with a small hole.

Let's just hope the generic-looking rock they've selected isn't one of those generic-looking fakes with a hidden key inside that leads to some other part of Mars that's invisible or located in another dimension or something.

The laser is one of ten tools Curiosity will be using to study the planet in search of signs that the environment was favorable for microbial life.

In several weeks, rover superstar will trek east to a spot where three different types of terrain intersect. By year's end, it will begin the journey to the mountain rising from the crater floor.